Courtesy Photo | Gen. David Petraeus visited Contingency Operating Site Marez on New Year's Eve and...... read more read more
By Pvt. Jennifer L. Lowes
CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq — Gen. David Petraeus visited Contingency Operating Site Marez on New Year's Eve and promoted soldiers including three from the 130th Engineering Brigade; 1st Lt. Jason Jack, Staff Sgt. Ronald Nelson and Sgt. Everardo Samaniego.
"It was an honor to be promoted by Gen. Petraeus," said Jack. "He's the man who turned this war in Iraq around, and a major player in history," he added.
For Sgt. 1st Class Vessichelli it was somewhat of a reunion.
"I was excited to see that the general remembered me," said Vissichelli who had interaction with Petraeus at Ft. Campbell while serving with the 327th Infantry Division.
Along with the promotion ceremony Petraeus had lunch with a small group of soldiers and handed out coins to many others.
"It's not often that soldiers are given the opportunity to talk to him on a personal level," said Maj. Seana Jardin the Brigade S-1.
Jardin coordinated with the division to schedule and lock in a timeline for the general's visit. Along with the planning of right place and right time she ensured that the soldiers were ready for the visit.
It means a lot that he is taking time out of his schedule to do some battlefield circulation and really talk to soldiers, and the soldiers understand and appreciate just what it means to be given these opportunities, said Jardin.
| Date Taken: | 12.31.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.05.2010 02:20 |
| Story ID: | 43444 |
| Location: | MOSUL, IQ |
| Web Views: | 213 |
| Downloads: | 165 |
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